Thousands of people are protesting outside a platinum mine where 34 workers were shot dead by police.

Controversial politician Julius Malema was welcomed as a hero when he arrived to address the crowd of strikers at the Lonmin mine in Marikana.

Malema - expelled by the ruling African National Congress earlier this year - blamed the government for the "Marikana Massacre", which also left 78 people injured.

Strikers complained that President Jacob Zuma had not come to them when he flew to the area on Friday and visited hospitalized miners who were wounded in Thursday's shootings.

Image Caption:The platinum mine is north west of the capital Johannesburg

Malema claimed senior ANC members had ignored the escalating situation over miners' demands for higher salaries because they had shares in the affected Lonmin platinum mine.

Meanwhile, the British Foreign Office says it welcomes an investigation into the police killing, while expressing its shock at the deaths.

A spokesman said: "We are shocked by the loss of life at the Marikana mine in South Africa and send our condolences to the friends and family of all those who have died or been affected.

"We welcome the commitment of the South African government to resolving the situation through dialogue.

"We further welcome President Zuma's announcement of a Commission of Inquiry, as well as National Police Commissioner General Riah Phiyega's confirmation that the South African Police Service would co-operate fully with an investigation into these tragic events."

South Africans are seeking answers following the deadliest protest since the apartheid era.

Armoured cars and police trucks have been patrolling the area around London-listed Lonmin's mine while a helicopter circled above the spot where officers opened fire on hundreds of workers.

Many of the miners gathered nearby are still traumatised by the incident, while others have trickled into the mine's hospital hoping to find out if missing loved ones were dead, wounded or in jail.

Video:SA Police Defend Mine Shootings

On Friday President Zuma said the whole country was mourning and promised a full investigation into the incident, for which the mine workers and police have blamed each other.

Mr Zuma said: "We have to uncover the truth about what happened here. In this regard, I've decided to institute a commission of inquiry.

"The inquiry will enable us to get to the real cause of the incident and to derive the necessary lessons too. This is a shocking thing."

The president's comments came after South Africa's police chief said the officers who killed the striking miners were acting in self defence.

Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega told a news conference officers at the mine near Rustenburg had to use "maximum force to defend themselves" when they were charged by armed protesters.

She said 259 people had been arrested on charges ranging from public disorder to murder.

Video:SA Policeman Defends Mine Killings

The National Union of Mineworkers claims 36 people were killed and 86 injured in the incident.

At least another 10 people - including two police officers - have died during the violence at the mine, which began a week ago.

Lonmin chairman Roger Phillimore said the deaths were deeply regretted - but emphasised the mine considers it "clearly a public order rather than a labour relations-associated matter".

The dispute is about wages, but the violence has been fuelled by a power struggle between the dominant National Union of Mineworkers and the new Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union.